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1816Latest news from fesmedia-africa.orgTYPO3 - get.content.righthttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssThu, 15 Nov 2018 12:44:00 +0100Media Awards back in 2019 For Namibiahttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/media-awards-back-in-2019-for-namibia/
Namibia’s annual media awards have been handed a new lifeline after the Editors’ Forum of Namibia...A statement by the EFN said the funds raised at a dinner late in September in celebration of the International Day of Universal Access to Information will be used to support the operations of the media ombudsman.“Information about the categories for entries, the closing date and the date of the awards ceremony will be communicated to journalists early next year” the statement read.This announcement comes nearly a decade after the last such awards were held in 2010, when they were still being hosted under the auspices of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).Then, awards were presented in categories such as best feature writer, best community reporter, best columnist, journalism photographer of the year, best news photo, best feature photo, and best sports photo.Criteria for awarding the best journalists included accuracy and balance, creativity and fairness, significance and effectiveness, enterprise and ingenuity, quality of writing and mastering of style, quality of research and sources used as well as adherence to journalistic standards and ethics. Past winners include veteran freelance journalist John Grobler (Journalist of the Year 2007) and 2010 best community reporter Die Republikein’s Des Erasmus for his piece on "Erongo"
https://www.namibian.com.na/73154/read/Media-awards-to-be-revived-in-2019
]]>Media MattersThu, 15 Nov 2018 12:44:00 +0100Support for “prisoner of conscience” Mkhaïtirhttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/support-for-prisoner-of-conscience-mkhaitir/
Reporters without Borders (RSF) and 31 other human rights and free speech Non-Governmental...He was charged with apostasy and “insulting the Prophet Muhammad” in December 2015, before being sentenced to death. The sentence was subsequently commuted to two years in prison on 9 November 2017, which meant he should have been freed then on the grounds of time already spent in detention. He remains, however, in custody at an undisclosed location, with limited access to his family and no access to his lawyers, after authorities failed to implement an appeal court ruling for his release granted on 9 November 2017. The Mauritanian National Assembly passed a law on April 2018 that binds anyone convicted of "blasphemous speech" and acts deemed "sacrilegious" to the death penalty. "Continuing to detain Mohamed Mkhaïtir demonstrates serious contempt for the rule of law by the Mauritanian authorities” said Amnesty International's West Africa Campaigner, Kine Fatim Diop. “He is a prisoner of conscience whose life is in the hands of the authorities solely because he peacefully exercised his right to freedom of expression," she added. For nearly a year, his lawyers have repeatedly requested to visit him, but they have still not received an answer from the Minister of Justice. Mkhaïtir is currently believed to be unwell and in need of urgent medical care. The United Nations (UN) has, on several occasions, criticized the detention and death sentence of Mohamed Mkhaïtir. In June 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Mkhaïtir's trial was unfair, his detention arbitrary, and that Mauritania was in violation of international law.
https://www.ifex.org/mauritania/2018/11/13/blogger-detained/]]>Media MattersThu, 15 Nov 2018 12:34:00 +0100Registration now open for free online course, “Civil Society and African Media Policy in the Digital Age”http://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/registration-now-open-for-free-online-course-civil-society-and-african-media-policy-in-the-digit/
The Wits LINK Centre and WitsX has opened registration for the first offering of the free,...http://misa.org/featured-on-home/registration-now-open-for-free-online-course-civil-society-and-african-media-policy-in-the-digital-age/]]>New(s) at fesmedia AfricaFri, 02 Nov 2018 13:31:00 +0100MISA Transparency Assessments 2018http://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/misa-transparency-assessments-2018/
Infographics for 7 African countries plus a regional overview launched on Universal Access to...
eSwatini download
Malawi download
Moçambique download
Namibia download
Tanzania download
Zambia download
Zimbabwe download
Regional Overview download
]]>Media MattersWed, 03 Oct 2018 16:05:00 +0200MISA Transparency Assessment 2018 - Malawihttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/misa-transparency-assessment-2018-malawi/
Launched on Universal Access to Information Day!download]]>Media MattersWed, 03 Oct 2018 14:59:00 +0200Codes of Conduct for Election Observers and Mediahttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/codes-of-conduct-for-election-observers-and-media/
Supported by FES Madagascar and the ECF-SADC (SADC Electoral Commissions Forum), CENI - the...New(s) at fesmedia AfricaTue, 02 Oct 2018 09:45:00 +0200Six Months of Obscurity: Chadians Digitally Cut-Offhttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/six-months-of-obscurity-chadians-digitally-cut-off/
On April 2, 2018, the government of Chad shut down social media platforms such Facebook, Twitter...On February 18, 2016, access to electronic message services such as Gmail, Yahoo and Ooutlook.com were disconnected, following wide circulation of the video of sexual assault of Zouhoura, a young high school student. The circulation, which was initiated by the attackers, drew widespread protests across the country. The head of state for the first time, took to social media to condemn the barbaric incident. Unfortunately, access to social media platforms were cut a day after his intervention. Nevertheless, it must be noted that before the censorship related to the Zouhoura demonstrations occurred, some information networks were already targeted. Makaïla’s blog as well as online newspapers like Tchadinfos and Tchadactuel had been censored even if they were reinstated later.
Internet censorship during elections, an African ritual
From 9 to 11 April 2016, there was a complete Internet and mobile services blackout throughout the presidential elections. The networks were fully restored after three weeks.
Arbitrary Shutdown of Social Media Platforms
The reasons behind the blocking of the social media on May 9, 2016 remained unexplained, until they were restored on December 2, 2016. Several rights groups including Internet Without Border, Access Now, that advocate for a transparent and neutral Internet denounced the shutdown. . According to Internet without Borders (ISF), the shutdown cost Chad an estimated amount of 500 million euros.
Ongoing social media blackout in Chad since April 2, 2018
Since April 2, 2018, there has been another social media blackout in full swing, forcing Chadians, who are already used to such situations to bypass the shutdown by using circumvention tools to access the Internet. Annadjib, a young blogger in an interview with TV5 Monde, bitterly explained how the shutdown has interrupted his regular use of the Internet. At the very beginning of this censorship, several freedom of expression and human rights organisations denounced the shutdown of social media platforms in Chad. For instance, the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) wrote to Airtel officials in the country to demand explanation for the shutdown but, did not receive any feedback. AFEX again issued a statement calling on the government to restore the platforms. Internet without Borders (ISF) also wrote articles in which it called on governments in Central Africa to intervene. But this was also, without any success. On August 24, 2018, ISF and a group of Chadian lawyers, led by Mr. Frédéric Daïnonet, filed a complaint against the mobile operators Airtel and Tigo for blocking access to social social media for over five months at the time. M. Daïnonet denounced the shutdown as a violation of consumer rights and an infringement of the freedom of expression. But in the meantime, the network remains censored.
Government’s Buck-Passing
In a radio interview, Mr. Ahmat Bachir, Minister of Public Security and Administration of Chad denied the restrictions of social media platforms
by operators. According to him, “the government would not have allowed/condoned any disruption or restriction of social networks”. For the Chadian minister, the censorship felt by the majority of Chadians is a myth. Inviting civil society groups who are currently filing complaints in Chadian courts for the restoration of normal connectivity, he said: “These are bad languages, gossip,” as reported on the ISF website.
Chadian Internet users (netizens) forced to adapt
Forced to use apps to connect to social networks, Chadians complain about additional costs. The only alternative in order not to exceed their monthly Internet budget is to connect less than usual. This does not favor the growth of the digital economy and the emergence of true freedom of expression.
Chadian Netizens gripped by Paranoia
Often, we hear that WhatsApp as well as other social media platforms are monitored in the country. These are usually rumors circulating among internet users. Those who are more cautious have deactivated their social media accounts, others are just observers, and the bravest continue to navigate as if nothing had happened, that is if they do not end up becoming activists fighting to free “their Internet”. Under no circumstances should censorship be a substitute for dialogue. To gag a whole population amounts to provoking them to rebellion leading to their losing confidence in the authorities.
It is therefore important for stakeholders to work together to protect Internet users by adopting rights-respecting legislation as well as taking measures to protect them against online threats and dangers. The government of Chad has a duty to promote Internet access and penetration, guarantee its transparency and to offer digital literacy education to citizens so that they can take full advantage of the benefits the Internet presents.
http://www.africafex.org/censorship/six-months-of-obscurity-chadians-digitally-cut-off
]]>Media MattersWed, 05 Sep 2018 08:40:00 +0200Africa Check seeks a Fact-checkerhttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/africa-check-seeks-a-fact-checker/
Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking website, is seeking a...http://journalism.co.za/africa-check-seeks-a-fact-checker/?platform=hootsuite]]>Media MattersTue, 04 Sep 2018 08:32:00 +0200Open data for reporters and activistshttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/open-data-for-reporters-and-activists/
Find out how open data can improve your story-telling and research.https://courses.academy.africa/courses/open-data-for-reporters-and-activists/]]>New(s) at fesmedia AfricaWed, 15 Aug 2018 15:44:00 +0200Zambians protest introduction of tax on internet callshttp://www.fesmedia-africa.org/what-is-news/africa-media-news/news/article/zambians-protest-introduction-of-tax-on-internet-calls/
Zambians are protesting the implementation of a 30 Ngwe ($0.1) levy on internet calls over...We are concerned about the proposed tariff of 30 Ngwe per day because it is a major threat to freedom of expression, access to information, media rights, freedom of assembly online an affront to the enjoyment of digital rights.”
‘‘Jobs such as call centre workers, talk time sellers, conventional call technicians will reduce drastically if more Zambians migrate to internet calls and create jobs in America and elsewhere,’‘ explained the information minister and government spokesperson, Dora Siliya.

Government claims that 80% of the eight million active users (first quarter of 2018) are using Whatsapp, Viber and Skype to make calls.
Bloggers ask gov’t to withdraw new tax
Zambians including bloggers, opposition politicians and ordinary citizens have since cried foul over the new tariff, arguing that mobile subscribers acquire data bundles from the telecommunications companies, in order to access the platforms in question.
The Bloggers of Zambia issued a statement on Tuesday, calling on the government to withdraw the tariff and the other Cyber laws that are in the pipeline.
“We are concerned about the proposed tariff of 30 Ngwe per day because it is a major threat to freedom of expression, access to information, media rights, freedom of assembly online an affront to the enjoyment of digital rights,” the bloggers said in a join statement issued with MISA Zambia.
The government also intends to introduce the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill, which it says will promote responsible use of digital platforms and safeguard users of electronic platforms which include social media from unscrupulous users that mean harm.
Reactions from Zambians online

Internet regulation or repression of free speech
Zambia’s actions follow an increasingly consistent pattern by governments in Africa to regulate social media platforms.
Ugandans are still resisting a daily social media tax of $0.05 that was imposed in July. Human rights groups including Amnesty International condemned the tax as an attack on freedom of speech.
Tanzania in April approved new Internet Regulations that required bloggers to pay up to $900 to operate in the country, while also introducing stringent measures like compulsory passwords for all mobile phone owners. Defaulters of the new regulations face hefty fines of up to $2000 and jail time.
In May, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta, signed into law the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Bill 2018. New York-based media rights watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had warned that the bill could criminalise free speech.
http://www.africanews.com/2018/08/14/zambians-protest-introduction-of-tax-on-internet-calls/]]>Media MattersWed, 15 Aug 2018 15:38:00 +0200